This debate has already taken so many faces, and been argued so many times, that I cannot hope to add much more to it.
But I’ll try anyway.
A new study published by the Journal of Consumer Research has found that many Hummer owners excuse their large, oft-unnecessary H1 and H2s by crying patriotism and quoting American ideals like individualism. So are Hummer owners the morally righteous in the debate of anti-consumerism versus over-consumption?
While we wait to see if General Motors will go banko come June 1, Raser Technologies is hoping to change our minds about one of GM’s most iconic offerings: the Humvee.
Faulty fuel tank support straps in new H3T latest setback for GM
Just when you thought things couldn’t get any worse for General Motors, they did. The financially beleaguered automaker announced a recall of 1,738 of its new Hummer H3Ts on Friday, after the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration said a weak support strap could cause the H3T’s gas tank to fall off, “Increasing the risk of crash.”
GM Vice Chairman Bob Lutz announced the company’s suggested holiday reading list, via the FastLane blog, and I’ll have to admit that while I found it fairly unusual for a car company (not an honorific title, yet) to issue reading recommendations, I found the idea quaint and refreshing.
I was quite eager to see what GM might come up with, since I’ve got a little extra time on my hands during the holidays, and I’m always looking for a good book. My first thought was that GM would suggest some escapist fiction - Ray Bradbury, for instance. But Something Wicked This Way Comes probably sounds a little daunting in these times. GM, understandably, does not wish to frighten any more people away.
I don’t normally watch Fox News as it is too upsetting and degrading; however, I couldn’t help but share my indignation over a video fellow Green Options Editor Alex Felsinger of Planetsave shared with me. This Fox News video titled “Cold Chicken” begins by bashing PETA’s protest over KFC (while the reporters eat fried chicken), then moves on to targeting green kids.
Children who are generally concerned about our planet’s health and climate change do not deserve to be denigrated by Fox’s idiot Greg Gutfeld, who would actually punish his kids for being green!
Editor’s Note: Marc is one of the newest additions to the Gas 2.0 writing team. Welcome Marc!
In between a heavy rotation of aspirin, Tylenol, and Motrin, washed down with the cheapest scotch I could find, I took a few minutes to stop focusing on the ever-imploding economy and my prospects for having a job in six months, to do some problem solving for the world.
According to what anyone of any authority in the United States would have you believe, the collapse of the Big Three automakers (as if they are inextricably linked) would send our economy from the thin patch of ice that it is currently skating on, into the frigid depths to drown. Job loss estimates that I’ve seen range to two and a half million, not much less than one percent of the entire population of the country. It is for this reason, apparently, that Congress will likely throw a lifeline to each of the Big Three, by printing up trainloads (a Hummer might do actually – thanks GM!) of cash and wishing it well (thanks taxpayers!).
No, not that… rather, the Chinese are experiencing American-style SUV mania with their low gas prices. Also in this edition:Find out how walk-able your neighborhood is, and People Cube helps offices become sustainable.
A 45 year old mechanic from Dorset, England, always wanted a Hummer, but not the cost of maintenance and keeping it filled with gas.
So, Andy Saunders took a 1998 Suzuki Wagon, which he called an “old people carrier”, added custom steel panels and other parts to get that special Hummer look.
Now he drives a pint-sized version of the army’s Humvee personal troop transporter at a savings. Instead of 12mpg, he says the “credit crunch Hummer” gets 60mpg.
